KUALA LUMPUR /Malaysia/, October 27. /TASS/. The Russian delegation led by Deputy Prime Minister Alexei Overchuk will participate in the 20th East Asia Summit (EAS), held in the Malaysian capital Kuala Lumpur.
The East Asia Summit is part of the system of mechanisms of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and is one of the key elements of the security and cooperation architecture in the Asia-Pacific region, formed around ASEAN with which Russia has a strategic partnership. The summit is held annually in conjunction with ASEAN meetings. Traditionally, it includes 18 countries: these are members of the ASEAN +6 format (ASEAN countries along with China, South Korea and Japan, Australia, India and New Zealand have joined them), as well as Russia and the United States. On October 26, East Timor officially joined ASEAN.
It is expected that, among other topics, US tariffs on countries in the region will be on the agenda. Also in Kuala Lumpur, promoting cooperation between ASEAN and other Eurasian integration associations such as EAEU and CIS will be discussed.
In addition to participating in the summit, Overchuk also plans bilateral contacts in Kuala Lumpur. The head of the Russian delegation will meet with Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Trinh and Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet.
“We have a very broad and meaningful dialogue with Vietnam in all fields. Literally, in January this year, the Prime Minister of the Russian Federation visited the Socialist Republic of Vietnam. And our contacts here are very close,” Mr. Overchuk emphasized before the conference. “As for Cambodia, this country also shows great interest in developing cooperation with Russia. We will also discuss this issue.”
After Kuala Lumpur, the delegation led by Overchuk will go to South Korea, where the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit will be held.
